North Platte Canteen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Platte Canteen
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| Location | North Platte, Nebraska United States |
| Coordinates | 41°08′22″N 100°45′36″W / 41.13935°N 100.76°W |
| History | |
| Opened | December 25, 1941 |
| Closed | April 1, 1946 |
Platte
Platte
The North Platte Canteen was a special place in North Platte, Nebraska, United States. It was a railroad stop where local people welcomed soldiers during World War II. The canteen operated from Christmas Day 1941 until April 1, 1946.
It was right next to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Its main goal was to give snacks, drinks, and a friendly welcome to soldiers. These soldiers were traveling by train to fight in the war. They usually had only 10 to 15 minutes to stop. During its time, almost 55,000 women from Nebraska helped out. They served nearly seven million soldiers on their way to war.
Contents
History of the Canteen
How it Started
The idea for the canteen began on December 17, 1941. This was just ten days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Soldiers from the 134th Infantry Regiment were on a train. They were going from Arkansas to an unknown place. Many friends and family members gathered at the North Platte train station. They hoped to see their loved ones.
The train arrived around 4:30 PM. But the soldiers on board were not the ones they expected. Still, the crowd cheered. They gave the soldiers gifts and food meant for their own sons. Everyone wished them well as the train left.
Trains stopped in North Platte for an important reason. It was a "tender point" for steam trains. This meant crews could oil the wheels and add water to the tanks. This was needed to keep the trains running. This practice stopped when the Union Pacific Railroad started using diesel trains.
The Canteen Begins
Rae Wilson, a 26-year-old saleswoman, saw the kindness at the station. Her brother was supposed to be on that train. As she left, she had an idea. She wanted to meet every train that came through North Platte. She wanted to give all soldiers the same warm welcome.
The next day, she suggested this idea become a regular thing. She also wrote a letter to The Daily Bulletin. In her letter, she asked people to help. She said that during World War I, mothers had canteens at the depot. She wanted North Platte to start one now. She offered to volunteer her time to run it. She explained how happy the Kansas soldiers were to receive gifts. She said North Platte helped keep their spirits high.
The very next day, Rae started working on the canteen. She called local stores for cigarettes and tobacco. She asked housewives to bake cakes and cookies. Younger women were asked to hand out gifts and talk to the soldiers. The first meeting for the canteen committee was on December 22.
Three days later, on Christmas Day, the first train arrived. The young soldiers were surprised by the warm welcome. At first, the women worked out of the nearby Cody Hotel. Later, the railroad company let them use a small building by the tracks. This happened after a woman befriended the president of the Union Pacific. Soon, many people from nearby towns joined in. They all helped make the canteen a success.
After a while, the women were serving a thousand men each day. If a soldier had a birthday, they got their own cake. Everyone would sing "Happy Birthday" to them.
Donations and Support
The canteen kept going thanks to many kind strangers. A coffee importer sent a large can of coffee. A woman who enjoyed the food later sent a $200 check. A scrap drive gave two-thirds of its money to the canteen. Even the priest from the local Roman Catholic church helped. He donated twelve turkeys. When he heard they were all eaten, he brought his own turkey to the canteen. The canteen's costs were about $225 each week.
More than 125 communities helped out at the canteen. Some people traveled up to 200 miles to volunteer. Groups took turns providing food for the day. If a group was too small, several would work together. They held benefit dances and pie socials to raise money. Young people also helped. They cleaned floors and found ways to support the troops. One girl wrote addresses on popcorn ball packages. This way, soldiers had someone to write to. A 12-year-old boy even sold his pets and toys to donate money. The railroad company also helped. They gave the canteen a dishwasher and coffee makers.
Acts of Kindness
The women at the canteen did many special things for the soldiers. Those working at the desk wrote cards and letters for servicemen. They also sent telegrams for those who didn't have time. They even sent flowers and gifts for special occasions. If a soldier was rushing to call home and confused the operator, a woman would step in to help.
Women also worked on the train platform. They gave out fruit, matches, and candy bars. This was for soldiers who couldn't go inside. An important job was answering questions. They told soldiers about the canteen, North Platte, and Nebraska. They also cared for men on hospital trains. These soldiers could not leave their cars.
The men on hospital trains were treated just like everyone else. Women gave them magazines, religious books, and decks of cards. If soldiers couldn't get off the train, women walked through the aisles. They handed out goods or passed items up through the windows.
End of the War and Closing
When the war ended, the canteen stayed open. It continued to serve men and women returning home. The North Platte Canteen finally closed on April 1, 1946. It had served over six million servicemen and women.
Sixteen trains were scheduled on the last day. Regular Monday workers were there, along with women from the Lutheran Church in North Platte and Gothenburg, Nebraska. They worked from 5 AM until midnight. They never knew when troop trains would arrive because their movements were secret. Even during rationing, food was donated. This gave soldiers a taste of home.
Over four and a half years, the canteen raised a lot of money: $137,884.72.
- 1942: $10,429.83
- 1943: $23,417.45
- 1944: $42,931.20
- 1945: $51,565.35
